Martina Arroyo

Martina Arroyo, 90, died on October 13, 2026. Martina Arroyo was known publicly as an American operatic soprano. She was part of the first generation of black opera singers to achieve wide success. Arroyo first rose to prominence at the Zurich Opera between 1963 and 1965, and then was one of the Metropolitan Opera's (Met) leading sopranos between 1965 and 1978. During those years at the Metropolitan Opera, she was also a regular presence at the world's opera houses, performing on the stages of La Scala, Covent Garden, the Opéra National de Paris, the Teatro Colón, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Vienna State Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the San Francisco Opera. She is best known for her performances of the Italian spinto repertoire, and in particular, her portrayals of Verdi and Puccini heroines. While Arroyo announced her retirement from performance in 1989 when she joined the faculty of Louisiana State University, she continued to perform professionally for the next five years in a decreased capacity. Public biographical listings identify Arroyo as an American operatic soprano. This public record remains centered on Arroyo's work as an American operatic soprano and the documented milestones of that career.